Safety Tips for Driving near Bicycles

Now that spring is here, many more cyclists will be out and about. As drivers, we have to make room for them and respect their right to share the road. Driving near bicycles can be nerve-wracking, but if we follow these safety tips, we can make the road safer for cyclists.

First of all, you should understand that bicyclists are legally allowed to bike on the road, but they are not allowed to bike on the sidewalk, so don’t complain about them being in the road. If there’s no bike lane, you just have to deal with going slow for a while. It won’t kill you, but you could kill them, so keep that road rage in check.

Be very cautious when turning, especially making left turns. You may not realize how fast a bicycle is coming toward you and end up causing a collision, so it’s best to wait for them to pass. Always signal before changing lanes or turning, too—this is a given, but especially when cyclists are around.

Just be courteous, pay attention, and accept that cyclists aren’t going anywhere—and that isn’t a bad thing.